Author: Kanayan Tamar

VARTAN OSKANIAN: LEVON TER-PETROSYAN CONTINUED GAGIK TSARUKYAN’S SPEECH

19:12 | March 3,2014 | Politics

The accents [HAK leader] Levon Ter-Petrosyan laid in his speech
during the Saturday 1 rally were the continuation of BHK Leader
Gagik Tsarukyan’s speech made at the party’s recent congress. Both of
them referred to the situation in the country and suggested ways to
stabalise the situation, Vartan Oskanian, a senior member of the BHK,
wrote on his Facebook page.

“There cannot be two opinions; the country is in a grave situation.

The leaders of non-coalition parties have agreed that the only way to
take the country out of the situation is to consolidate the political
forces and civil society.

I believe that anyone in power, whose ultimate goal is not to retain
power, will positively assess the speeches and proposals which entirely
fit the realms of the Constitution and democracy and can lead to a
political process which will strengthen the country’s statehood and
restore its reputation in the international arena.

In 2017 and 2018, Armenians will again go to the polls to elect
lawmakers and president. Armenia does not have so much time, political,
economic and demographic resources to wait for the next elections,
given the practice of the previous elections.

Therefore, people’s demand for the government’s resignation is quite
logical and it can be achieved through legitimate processes.

Naturally, there is also a need for a common ideological basis and
programme, which will serve as an alternative to the existing policy
and will give people hope and believe in the future of the country.

This will be made possible through the formation of a new government
based on open and wide extra-parluiamentary forces,” said Mr.

Oskanian.

SAHAKYAN: HEALTH CARE WILL REMAIN AT KARABAKH AUTHORITIES’ FOCUS

March 03, 2014 | 16:33

STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), or Artsakh, President
Bako Sahakyan on Monday visited the Sargis and Amalia Karapetyan
Republican Medical Center in capital city Stepanakert.

Sahakyan got acquainted with the activities of the medical
establishment, informs the Central Information Department of the
Office of the NKR President.

The President noted that the hospital’s functioning in a new building
that meets modern standards should have a positive impact on improving
the quality of medical treatment in Artsakh.

He added that health care and its existing challenges will remain at
the focus of the authorities of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

HRANUSH KHARATYAN: JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE AMENDED

12:03 | March 3,2014 | Politics

The judicial system in Armenia needs to be amended, says ethnographer
Hranush Kharatyan.

“As long as we have dependent courts in the country, their judgments
will remain questionable. As an ordinary citizen I question all their
decisions as I find that courts do not examine cases objectively,”
she said.

As an example Ms. Kharatyan cited the controversial Harsnakar case when
Vahe Avetyan, head of ENT (ear-nose-throat) department at the Defense
Ministry’s Yerevan garrison hospital, died after being subjected to
violent beating at Harsnakar Restaurant owned by former MP, tycoon
Ruben Hayrapetyan.

Six employees of the restaurant – Garik Margaryan, Arman Khachatryan,
Davit Adamyan, Artur Babloyan, Arman Baghdasaryan and Norayr
Hayrapetyan have appeared at the bar and face up to 13 years’
imprisonment.

“These guys really committeed a heavy and sadistic crime, it is obvious
that they are really dangerous for the society. On the other hand,
their cynical behaviour and words ‘What I have done? Let me return
to my family’ comes to prove that they are dangerous people,” says
the ethnographer.

She says the defendants do not sense the gravity of their actions;
they do not value human life.

Ms. Kharatyan is hopeful that the court will make a fair judgment,
and the real culprits will be brought to justice.

ARMENIA SAYS WILL CONTINUE RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE ‘REGARDLESS OF UKRAINIANS’ CHOICE’

NEWS | 03.03.14 | 11:10

Continued cooperation and relations in all spheres with Kiev meet the
interests of the Republic of Armenia, Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh
Kocharyan declared at the weekend, commenting on Yerevan’s position on
the internal political events in Ukraine that, as it appears now, have
brought the eastern European nation to the brink of war with Russia.

“We deem that regardless of the choice of Ukraine our relations will
be continued,” said Kocharyan in answer to a question by an RFE/RL
Armenian Service correspondent. The Armenian official, in particular,
was referring to the preterm general elections that have been appointed
in Ukraine after the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych and the
formation of an interim government consisting of opposition members and
representatives of the Maidan – a pro-EU movement that launched street
protests in late November in response to the Ukrainian leadership’s
decision not to sign an Association Agreement with Brussels.

The situation in Ukraine, which is home to a sizable Armenian community
unofficially numbering some 600,000, including both ethnic Armenian
citizens of Ukraine and citizens of Armenia working and staying there,
has been rapidly evolving over the weekend as separatist sentiments
have been on the rise in more pro-Russian eastern parts of the country
and especially in the Crimea, the southernmost peninsula that hosts
the Russian Black Sea Navy and has a predominantly ethnic Russian
population.

Since last Thursday the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has refused to
report to Kiev as control over this strategic region fully passed
to its pro-Russian leadership. The Russian military, meanwhile,
was deployed in the Crimean region as legislators in Moscow also
gave President Vladimir Putin wide powers for an armed invasion
of Ukraine at any moment to back the country’s ethnic Russian and
Russian-speaking population.

The Western powers have called on Russia to pull back its forces
from Crimea and de-escalate the situation around Ukraine. But Moscow
insists on its right to get involved if the situation around Crimea
and other parts of Ukraine becomes dangerous for Russian citizens or
ethnic Russians living there.

Armenia, which is Russia’s military ally under a defense pact as
part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has not
presented its official position on the escalation of the situation
in Ukraine yet.

Despite membership in the CSTO, Armenia was not involved in a similar
conflict that Russia had with Georgia back in 2008.

CRIMEA REFERENDUM TO PUT KARABAKH INTO FOCUS: EXPERT

March 3, 2014 – 17:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Decision to protect Crimea’s Russian population,
taken under complicated circumstances, marked an important tendency
in Moscow’s understanding of the norms of international law, a member
of the International Law Association of Russia said.

As Denis Dvornikov told PanARMENIAN.Net for many decades, the dispute
over the precedence of the nations’ right to self-determination versus
territorial integrity was politicized, leading many negotiations to
a standstill.

“After Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, political
acknowledgement of Crimeans’ right to decide their own fate marked a
clear tendency in the international law enforcement practice. Thus,
Russia confirmed that at least in post-Soviet space, peoples’ right
to self-determination takes precedence,” the expert said, noting that
there are no premises for major hostilities in Ukraine.

“Same is true for Karabakh,” the expert noted. “In present-day
situation, Russia is likely to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
sooner than Armenia does. This is the reason why backing Crimeans’
right for self-determination at the oncoming forum will bring Kahabakh
issue into focus, considering many historic similarities – Soviet
leadership’s thoughtless transfer of aboriginal lands of one nation
to another republic, lengthy struggle for independence and peaceful
co-existence with neighboring countries,” Dvornikov noted.

“After the Crimea-related issues, time must come for unequivocal
and uncompromising decisions on the Nagorno Karabakh. Otherwise,
consistency and objectivity of Russia’s decisions will be questioned,”
the expert concluded.

Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Crimea referendum to put Karabakh into focus: expert

Crimea referendum to put Karabakh into focus: expert

March 3, 2014 – 17:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Decision to protect Crimea’s Russian population,
taken under complicated circumstances, marked an important tendency in
Moscow’s understanding of the norms of international law, a member of
the International Law Association of Russia said.

As Denis Dvornikov told PanARMENIAN.Net for many decades, the dispute
over the precedence of the nations’ right to self-determination versus
territorial integrity was politicized, leading many negotiations to a
standstill.

“After Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, political
acknowledgement of Crimeans’ right to decide their own fate marked a
clear tendency in the international law enforcement practice. Thus,
Russia confirmed that at least in post-Soviet space, peoples’ right to
self-determination takes precedence,” the expert said, noting that
there are no premises for major hostilities in Ukraine.

“Same is true for Karabakh,” the expert noted. “In present-day
situation, Russia is likely to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
sooner than Armenia does. This is the reason why backing Crimeans’
right for self-determination at the oncoming forum will bring Kahabakh
issue into focus, considering many historic similarities – Soviet
leadership’s thoughtless transfer of aboriginal lands of one nation to
another republic, lengthy struggle for independence and peaceful
co-existence with neighboring countries,” Dvornikov noted.

“After the Crimea-related issues, time must come for unequivocal and
uncompromising decisions on the Nagorno Karabakh. Otherwise,
consistency and objectivity of Russia’s decisions will be questioned,”
the expert concluded.

DEUX COMITES POUR LE GAZ NATUREL MIS EN PLACE EN ARMENIE

ARMENIE

Deux comites sur la question du gaz seront mis en place au Parlement
et au Gouvernement de l’Armenie.

Le comite parlementaire examinera les questions soulevees par
l’opposition et le public sur le prix du gaz naturel, l’opportunite
de transferer au geant gazier russe Gazprom le reste des 20 pour
cent des parts dans le reseau de distribution du gaz armenien
ainsi que l’accumulation de 300 millions de $ de dette. Le comite du
gouvernement, quant a lui, va essayer de clarifier la question relative
a la valeur calorifique du gaz naturel russe fourni a l’Armenie.

Toutes les questions mentionnees ci-dessus ont ete un sujet de
controverse en Armenie ces derniers mois lors des negociations avec
la Russie sur le prix du gaz naturel et qu’un accord sur le gaz a
ete annonce.

La mise en place des comites a suscite des reactions mitigees en
Armenie : certains ont appele cela une manifestation des politiques
internes contradictoires, de l’imitation, une tentative de legitimer
l’accord avec Gazprom. Mais d’autres ont egalement decrit cela comme
la première et probablement pas la dernière etape contre le geant
russe Gazprom qui a acquis tous les droits en Armenie.

L’accord, qui a ete signe en Decembre entre le gouvernement armenien
et Gazprom, n’envisage pas de droits pour l’Armenie. En outre,
l’une des dispositions de l’accord decrit les sanctions possibles au
cas où l’Armenie ne parviendrait pas a remplir ses obligations. En
particulier, si l’Armenie veut reprendre ses actions dans le reseau
de distribution, il devra se tourner vers l’arbitrage international
et la payer a la valeur du marche. En outre, l’Armenie s’est engagee
a ne pas adopter des lois qui contrediraient les interets de Gazprom
en Armenie jusqu’en 2043.

L’Armenie ne pourra donc pas essayer de reviser ce qui a ete decrit
par beaucoup comme un accord de vassal qui determine non seulement
les prix eleves de l’essence, mais aussi la perte par le pays de sa
souverainete energetique ? Cet accord, en fait, a isole l’Armenie des
projets regionaux qui pouvaient etre associes avec le pompage du gaz
et du petrole iranien vers l’Europe. L’Armenie est consideree comme
la voie de transit optimal pour cela, mais l’accord armeno-russe ne
permet pas la participation du pays dans ces processus.

Apparemment, tout depend maintenant de l’issue des evenements en
Ukraine, et si ces evolutions conduisent a une revision des contrats
du gaz russo-ukrainiens il est possible que ce processus se poursuivra
dans d’autres pays.

En attendant, les comites en Armenie vont essayer de clarifier
les questions entre puissance. En particulier, le president Serge
Sarkissian a souligne lors d’un congrès recent de l’Union des
volontaires Yerkrapah que 80 pour cent d’ArmRosgazporm avait deja
ete vendu par les autorites precedentes et que maintenant seulement
une participation de 20 pour cent qui ne permettait de rien decide,
a ete vendu. En fait, la commission parlementaire pourrait conduire a
une confrontation entre les gouvernements actuels et precedents sur
la question de savoir qui est a blâmer pour le fait que l’Armenie
est devenue l’otage d’un organisme d’Etat russe.

Par Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow

lundi 3 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LE GROUPE CONSULTATIF DE L’UE TIENT SON ASSEMBLEE REGULIERE DU CONSEIL CONSULTATIF

ARMENIE

Artur Baghdasaryan, secretaire du Conseil national de securite et
l’ambassadeur Traian Hristea, chef de la delegation de l’UE a l’Armenie
ont co-preside la 15ème reunion du Conseil du Groupe consultatif de
l’UE en Armenie le 25 Fevrier.

Le Groupe consultatif de l’UE a presente son rapport trimestriel
pour Octobre-Decembre 2013, une mise a jour des besoins rapport a
l’evaluation et un plan de travail pour Janvier-Avril 2014, selon un
communique de presse du Groupe consultatif de l’UE en Armenie.

Le Conseil a exprime sa satisfaction avec le rapport trimestriel
pour Octobre-Decembre 2013, qui a souligne les conseils fournis par
le Groupe consultatif de l’UE dans les domaines de l’Etat de droit,
la migration, l’application de la loi, la gouvernance democratique
et les droits de l’homme.

Le rapport a souligne les efforts du Groupe consultatif de l’UE pour
soutenir le processus de dialogue sur les visas et l’introduction
de la notion de responsabilite penale des personnes morales dans le
droit penal armenien. Le Groupe a fourni des conseils et organise des
formations pour les organismes d’application de la loi sur la traite
des personnes et les enquetes financières.

Le soutien a l’Assemblee nationale a consiste a renforcer les
capacites du personnel du Comite permanent sur l’integration de l’UE,
le renforcement de la fonction de contrôle de l’Assemblee nationale
a l’egard du gouvernement et d’elargir l’engagement de l’Assemblee
nationale dans la cooperation inter-parlementaire, en particulier
avec les parlements nationaux de l’UE.

La reunion du Conseil a pris note du plan de travail et des besoins
d’evaluation pour Janvier-Avril 2014. Ce rapport mettra a jour une
evaluation des besoins anterieures etablis en 2013 et resumera les
conclusions et les recommandations dans les domaines mentionnes.

lundi 3 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

GRANDE REUNION PUBLIQUE DE SOUTIEN A JEAN-CLAUDE GAUDIN A LA SALLE DE L’EGLISE APOSTOLIQUE ARMENIENNE DE BEAUMONT (MARSEILLE 12E)

MARSEILLE

Roland Blum, Valerie Boyer et Didier Parakian invitent le public a une
Grande reunion publique de soutien a Jean-Claude Gaudin (Marseille
en Avant), Jeudi 6 mars 2014 a 19 heures a la Salle de l’eglise
apostolique armenienne de Beaumont (8, impasse des Monts 12ème).

Interventions de nombreuses personnalites (Jean-Claude Gaudin, Roland
Blum, Valerie Boyer, Didier Parakian). L’Armenie et les combats de
la communaute armenienne (loi de penalisation du negationnisme du
genocide, relations entre Marseille et Erevan, entre la France et
l’Armenie, structures de la communaute armenienne, Annee de l’Armenie
a Marseille en 2015) seront au centre de ces interventions. La soiree
sera clôturee par un aperitif. Entree Libre.

Krikor Amirzayan

lundi 3 mars 2014, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

TIR
Zaven Igitian champion d’Europe junior de tir

Aux championnats d’Europe junior de tir à Moscou, le représentant de
l’Arménie, Zaven Igitian a remporté la médaille d’or du concours du
pistolet (air comprimé) 10 mètres. 43 tireurs participaient à ce
concours de tir. Par cette victoire, Zaven Igitian a décroché un visa
pour les Jeux olympiques junior qui se dérouleront en Chine. L’Arménie
est présente avec 9 sportifs à ces championnats d’Europe junior de tir
qui se termineront le 6 mars.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 2 mars 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com
– 748

4 political forces could propose Serzh Sargsyan’s dismissal – ANC

March 01, 2014 | 16:29

YEREVAN. – The country’s main political forces–Armenian National
Congress (ANC), Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage
Parties–have created a united front against the authorities, and the
format of this four may bring forth the matter of Serzh Sargsyan’s
dismissal.

ANC bloc National Assembly (NA) Faction Head Levon Zurabyan stated the
aforesaid during Saturday’s rally at Liberty Square in capital city
Yerevan, the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informs.

“We managed to put the matter of the authorities’ [natural] gas
adventures, the question of [the] March 1 [tragedy that occurred in
2008 in Downtown Yerevan] to a [NA] discussion. The motion of
non-confidence to the government is in turn,” he said.

Zurabyan rejected the view that the Ukrainian people succeeded in
celebrating victory, whereas the Armenian people were defeated in
2008.

“On March 1, the Armenian people did not withdraw even against the
bullets. The regime was able to hold on to power solely when it
declared a state of emergency and brought the army against the people;
this did not happen in Ukraine,” he added.

The ANC NA Faction leader also started that the current Armenian
authorities’ lack of ability in foreign policy has isolated them
abroad.

“The centers abroad will no longer tolerate the use of force against
the outburst of the Armenian people. [President] Serzh Sargsyan’s
regime has never been this weak, and all the conditions exist for
starting his removal process,” Levon Zurabyan concluded.

As a result of the clashes between the Armenian authorities and the
opposition, 8 demonstrators and 2 law enforcers were killed on March
1, 2008. No one has been held accountable for their deaths.